Craft Academy alum presents at medical conference
Morehead State University and the Craft Academy for Excellence in Science & Mathematics continue to produce alumni who go on to gain notable college and career accomplishments.
Craft Academy Class of 2020 graduate and MSU alum Katie Stumbo-Kaufmann (Class of 2023) presented her research at the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) 2026 Conference in Lexington this past March.
Stumbo-Kaufmann is a second-year medical student at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Rural Physician Leadership Program. She was recently the featured speaker at the Craft Academy’s 2025 Annual Alumni Leadership Conference. During her time at Craft Academy, Katie founded MEDX, a student-led club designed to inspire and support peers pursuing medicine and healthcare professions.
Stumbo-Kaufmann's CCTS Conference presentation focused on the study "PRiMAL: Precision Medicine Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Molecular Tumor Board Assisted Care to Usual Care."
The PRiMAL study is a collaborative effort involving multiple University of Kentucky-affiliated departments and regional partners, including UK St. Claire, where Stumbo serves as a Research Fellow. This multi-site, cluster-randomized trial was conducted statewide and evaluates whether proactive use of Molecular Tumor Boards (MTBs), multidisciplinary teams that incorporate genomic and molecular tumor profiling, can improve outcomes for patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Preliminary findings suggest that patients receiving MTB-assisted care experience improvements in quality of life over time compared to those receiving standard care alone. The study also demonstrated a trend toward sustained quality-of-life benefits in the MTB group, particularly at later follow-up intervals.
The findings contribute to a growing body of evidence supporting the integration of molecular tumor boards into standard oncology practice and improving cancer care delivery across diverse healthcare settings.
"This work highlights the growing importance of precision medicine in oncology, particularly in rural and community-based settings," Stumbo-Kaufmann said. "By integrating molecular data into treatment decisions, providers can better tailor therapies and potentially improve patient outcomes."
The Craft Academy for Excellence in Science & Mathematics is a dual-credit academy for academically exceptional Kentucky students. Craft Academy provides students with a postsecondary residential experience to complete their junior and senior high school years by enrolling in college courses. The Craft Academy aims to meet the unique educational needs of the Commonwealth's academically gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors. The academic rigor of the Craft Academy challenges students to excel at their highest level through project-based STEM+X courses and hands-on learning experiences emphasizing innovation, design, creativity, and civic and regional engagement.
To learn more, visit the Craft Academy website, email craftacademy@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2093.
For more information about MSU's College of Science & Engineering, email dsci@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2626.
Photo, left to right: Dr. Mike Brunet, director of clinical research at UK St. Claire HealthCare, and Katie Stumbo-Kaufmann at the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) 2026 Conference in Lexington.
